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. Patented Nov. 21, 1893.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. ZIEGLER. UPRIGHT PIANO.

110. 509,111. Patented Nov. 21,1898.

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ATENT HENRY ZIEGLER, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y.

UPRIGHT PIANO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 509,111, dated November21, 1893.

Application filed July 15, 1893- Serial No. 4801 (N0 model-l To aZZ whomit may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY ZIEGLER, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of New York, in the county and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Upright Pianos, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improve-- ments in string-frames forupright pianos by which the separate capo tasto bars for the treble andmiddle strings of the piano may be dispensed with and these bars madeintegral with the string frame, so that a better support for the stringsis obtained and the tone of the piano, especially in the treble,beconsiderably improved.

The invention consists of a string-frame for upright pianos, in whichthe strengthening brace-ribs of the frame are extended from thebottom-rib beyond the scale-rib to the toprib, and in which the capotasto bars are made integralwith the frame and extended from brace-ribto brace-rib, while openings are arranged adjacent to the cape tastobars at each side of the same, so as to permit the passage of thestrings below said bars.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front-elevation ofmy improved string-frame for upright pianos. Fig. 2 is a rear-elevationof the upper portion of the string-frame, and Fig. 3 is a verticaltransverse section on line 3, 3, Fig. 1, drawn on a larger scale.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a string-frame for uprightpianos, which is made of cast-steel or other suitable metal, and of thatclass in which the wrest-plank and hitch-pin portions are made integralwith the frame. The string-frame is provided with a number ofstrengthening brace-ribs a, a, a a &c., which extend from thebottom-rib 1) beyond the scale-ribd to the top-rib eof the frame, asshown clearly in Fig. 1. This exextension of the brace-ribs beyond thescalerib does not form part of the present application, as the same isfully described and explained in a pending application, filed by meApril 22, 1893, and serially numbered 471,439. The side-ribs a and aextend likewise from the bottom to the top-rib.

The string-frameAis provided between the side-rib a and thestrengthening brace-ribs a" a &c., with capo tasto bars f f, which arelocated adjacent to the scale-rib d, and parallel therewith, said capotasto bars being cast integrally with the string-frame, as shown clearlyin Fig. 3, and separated from the scale-rib d, its strengthening flanged and the flange 01 against which the wrest-plank rests, by narrowopenings 0 0 which are arranged parallel with the capo tasto bars and ateach side of the same. The strings are passed over the scale-rib andbelow the rounded-off ends of the capo tasto bars to the tuning-pins, asshown in Fig. 3. By this arrangement of the capo tasto bars, theseparate bars heretofore employed in upright pianos and the screw-boltsby which they are attached to the string-frame and wrest-plank, aredispensed with, and thereby all the advantages of the capo tasto barsbut without the objectionable feature of the same obtained. The castingof the capo tasto bars integral with the string-frame is renderedpossible by the extension of the strengthening brace-ribs beyond thescale-rib to the top-rib of the stringframe, while the openings at eachside of the capo tasto bars can be provided without weakening in anyrespect the resistance of the string-frame to the tension exertedthereon by the strings. It is preferable to arrange the cape tasto barsand the openings at each side of the same in the treble-portion of thestring-frame, but it is obvious that the same arrangement may also beused for the middle strings, while it is not necessary for thebass-strings, as the sound of the latter is usually strong enoughwithout requiring any further strengthening of the same. The main objectto be attained, namely, the increase and strengthening of the tone ofthe treblestrings, is produced by making the capo tasto bars integralwith the string-frame and providing the string-frame with a longitudinalopening at each side of the same between it and the scale-rib and thesupporting flange for the wrest-plank.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. Astring-frame for upright pianos, provided with ascale-rib and brace-ribs extendin g across the scale-rib, capo tastobars made integrally with the string-frame and extending from onebrace-rib to the other, a strengthening flange below the scale-rib, andopenings at both sides of said capo tasto bars, substantially as setforth.

2. A string-frame for upright pianos, which is provided With ascale-rib, strengthening brace-ribs which are extended from thebottom-rib across the scale-rib to the top rib of the frame, capo tastobars made integrally with the string-frame and extending from onebrace-rib to the other, a wrest-plank supporting-flange above the capotasto bars at the HENRY ZIEGLER.

\Vitnesses:

PAUL GOEPEL, CHARLES SOHROEDER.

